From the Archives: Fabulous Fashion Friday: Belted Cardi's & Maxi Skirts

If you are secretly yearning to wear the hot new maxi-skirt trend, but fear you'll look like an aging hippie trying to get your groovie back, then this is the fashion post for you!

A swingy, soft long-long-long skirt (also called a "floor duster") feels so freeing and feminine, but without the definition of your legs one might mistake you for a floating tent. Thus to update this 1960's trend, you must define your figure. Here are three easy ways to accomplish this:

1) Define your natural waist using a belt (to create a top and bottom);
2) Wear a plungy skin-showing neckline with sparkling jewelry (to draw attention to your face); and,
3) Choose a contrasting color on the top (for the same reasons in 1-2).

Look #1: A fitted cardi in mushroom layered over a long drapey (low cut) white tunic top, cinched together by a fat leather belt, over a triple-tiered powder blue floor duster...and finished with a Frankie Says long lariat necklace.

Notice how the untucked drapey top elongates the model and draws the eye up and down.

A wad of silver bangles adds a little jingle.

Aqua marine wire-wrapped gemstones lariat by Frankie Says, price upon request.

Oooh, that vintage-print vinyl handbag ($38) adds a Springy vibe.

 Look #2: Yellow cardigan, brurple (brownish-purple) polka dot "midi" skirt, same plungy top tucked in with fat belt and finished with an amazing 3-dots statement necklace by LM-Inspired.

I love the way her caramel hair, caramel belt and caramel shoe frames the look and draw the eye up and down.

We borrowed this bold, statement LM-Inspired gemstones necklace with three smokey quartz balls, sterling silver and green jasper, $85 at Ponytail Jewelry Studio.

   

What makes this so contemporary is the tailored silhouette created by the belted cardi.

Vintage floral print vinyl bag in soft pastels adds a little contrasting sass.

One more little secret: If you are on the hunt for a unique but dirt-cheap maxi skirt, hit your local thrift stores for a vintage piece that can be easily updated with new pieces suggested here.  There are tons of abandoned maxi's from decades past, which I've noticed are priced stupidly-low compared to above-the-knee skirts which are twice as much.  Apparently they have not seen my blog!

Stylish Kisses and Colorful Hugs,
Imogene
xxxooo